Assisted Ecological Restoration

A conservation success story rooted in water.
In 1996, the Tadoba Stream in the Chichghat Valley bordering Tadoba Tiger Reserve only flowed during the monsoon, flooding the overgrazed, compacted farmland,devoid of its green-cover, and sweeping away topsoil. Today, the restored  Chichghat Valley landscape has been transformed into a conservation success story with five different habitats and an abundance of wildlife. The story of renewal began with water. 
Initially a degraded, barren and deforested land, with stunted trees and a silted dry Tadoba Stream. Because the entire valley was used by the villagers for obtaining firewood, most tree were stumps. These stumps were allowed to grow. With massive plantation of local forest species, recreated the natural forest, and grasslands. Plant Nurseries were established with the help of neighbouring communities. They were encouraged with seeds, and plantations techniques. Depending on the type of plants the saplings were transplanted, in natural habitat. After years of soil compaction under sustained cattle grazing, ploughing was necessary. Grasslands were cleared of weeds and shrubs. Mixing the silt from the river was mixed with FYM and spread out and the grasslands were seeded.  
​When the Chichghat Valley Conservancy was established in 1996, the area was a barren landscape with a poor habitat for both humans and wildlife. This can be attributed to a sunken water table to a depth of 40 to 50 feet throughout the year, a product of years of deforestation. Without access to surface water all year round, the Conservancy’s habitat potential could not be realised – the land was simply missing the key catalyst required for any positive change to occur.Recharging of the underground strata had to be taken up on priority.
All monsoon run-offs was collected and used for underground water strata recharging. This was done by allowing natural depressions which were desilted to form seven lakes. The riverbed was cleaned to its original depth, so that the velocity and turbulence of the rushing monsoon waters would decrease, and pools of water would remain for the rest of the year. 
Four of these lakes supply water to local farmland whilst three remain exclusively for wildlife. We found dozens natural springs, which were clogged and closed. Removing debris in 22 locations and exposing aquifers now, when the monsoon reaches Chichghat, the water is directed to these underground storage ponds. The end result is a dramatic decrease in flooding during the monsoon and a dramatic increase in water availability to wildlife and people alike, throughout the year
The water table has been raised from 40 to 50 feet to 5 to 10 feet and successful channel management has meant that the monsoon rain remains in the area, instead of running off. This prevents flash floods followed by long drought periods and provides sustenance to humans and wildlife alike.
Besides recharging under ground water table and keeping the surrounding forest green, today all the waterholes have water for all year round.
Gradually the trees start to grow. Tender green grass attracted the Cheetal, Sambar, Barking deer, Gaur and Chowsinga.  The wildlife starts living in the surrounding forests. 
​When the Chichghat Valley Conservancy was established in 1996, the outlook for the youth of the village was bleak, and much like the monsoon rains flowing away from the area until our water program began, a lack of employment opportunities forced many to leave home in search of work.
Today, over 125 local villagers are employed within the conservancy and its management.
Through years of work building connections with the local tribal community, cattle grazing within the conservancy has stopped (and drastically decreased in the adjoining Tadoba forest. The TATR (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) forest surrounding the Chichghat valley, has grown thicker and more dense as a result.
Villagers who were dependent on the flora and fauna of the protected areas of the TATR for their livelihood, are now no longer forced to enter illegally and risk prosecution or conflict with wildlife. The conservancy encourages them to learn new vocations that complement the conservation mindset. 
Others still work the land but rather than deforesting and hunting, they can now grow new produce that does not require as much irrigation and doesn’t attract local wildlife, further reducing human-wildlife conflict.